I Will Raise This Family to Greatness - Chapter 300

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 300
Now I held the Bug magazine in my hands, and beside me stood Jeon Tae-guk, the heir to the Samjeon Group.
And most importantly, I was Jeon Sung-guk—someone with credentials so impressive that even the mothers of Gangnam, the epicenter of South Korea’s private education obsession, envied me.
[I’m Jeon Sung-guk. Shall we get started, ma’am?]
The Neighbor Woman snorted derisively and tilted her chin up.
[Since you’re an adult, you should greet me first.]
I offered a polished smile and greeted her properly. I couldn’t afford to be accused of poor upbringing.
“Hello. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Finished work early, I see. Well, what would you expect them to give a high school graduate to do?”
The Neighbor Woman tossed out another tasteless remark and took the backpack from her son, who had just arrived.
“Oh, my son attending Seoul National University. You must be exhausted today too?”
“Mom, please don’t.”
The Neighbor’s Son seemed somewhat embarrassed by his mother’s attitude.
[I’d be embarrassed too.]
I quickly nudged Jeon Tae-guk in the ribs and whispered.
“William, while we wait for the elevator, mention something about the Bug magazine.”
“Why? Suddenly?”
I nudged the oblivious Jeon Tae-guk’s ribs again.
“There’s plenty of good material from the interview. Like why I dropped out of Harvard. Or that I’m a genius. Various things, really.”
“Oh… got it.”
And we all gathered in front of the elevator.
When I gave him a meaningful glance, Jeon Tae-guk quickly asked a question.
“Sung-guk, about that Bug interview this time.”
“What about it?”
“You… mentioned why you dropped out of Harvard.”
I quickly observed the Neighbor Woman’s expression. Her eyes wavered slightly.
In South Korea, there was still a perception that Seoul National University was harder to get into than Harvard.
[Is it still not enough?]
I answered as casually as possible.
“The dropout… it was because work got busy. You know that too, hyung.”
“That’s true, but Korean mothers find it strange that you didn’t graduate from Harvard. Dropping out of such a difficult school to get into, no less.”
“Work was hectic, and America is a society that values competence over credentials. There wasn’t much more to learn at Harvard anyway.”
At that moment, the Neighbor’s Son, who had been eavesdropping on our conversation, stared intently at my face.
“Um… could you be….”
[Finally recognizing me. That “could you be” is probably right, young man.]
The moment I had been waiting for had finally arrived.
“Are you… the CEO Jeon Sung-guk who founded ‘FaceNote’?”
[So Seoul National University students do recognize me.]
I shrugged my shoulders.
“You know who I am? Even here in Korea.”
At my words, Neighbor’s Son’s jaw dropped, while Neighbor Woman looked back and forth between me and her son in confusion.
“Of course I know! You’re the founder of FaceNote!”
Neighbor’s Son was excited. And Neighbor Woman was flustered.
“Son, why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“Mom, this person is that famous FaceNote founder. Remember how I told you before? He’s the same age as me, but he studied abroad at a young age, got into Harvard at the youngest age possible, and then founded FaceNote, which is the most popular SNS in America right now… I told you there’s this globally successful person. Anyway, he’s an incredibly impressive person!”
[Neighbor Woman, that person your son attends Seoul National University with is standing right here. I….]
I did my best to suppress the smile creeping up the corners of my mouth.
At that moment, Neighbor Woman looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“You attended Harvard?”
“I did. I dropped out, though.”
“So you’re a high school graduate.”
Neighbor Woman still refused to bend her pride.
Neighbor’s Son tugged at his mother in embarrassment.
“Mom, what does high school graduate matter? Besides, he said he came to Korea to expand business in the Asia region… and he’s living right next door to us. He’s an incredibly impressive person.”
“Business goes well sometimes and poorly other times. Look at your father. When things go well, he thrives, and when they don’t, he struggles. Isn’t that right?”
“Mom, it’s not on that level.”
Neighbor’s Son grew anxious, but Neighbor Woman merely crossed her arms and looked me over.
“You look just like that actor from that historical drama….”
[Sigh, this woman is hopeless. Well, let me move to the next step.]
I looked at Jeon Tae-guk.
“William, Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung hasn’t been posting much on FaceNote. Could you check on that?”
“Ah, I’ve already told Father to post more frequently.”
At those words, the woman’s eyes widened.
I quickly explained to her, whether she wanted it or not.
“This is William Jeon, who works at our company. He’s the only son of Samjeon Group Chairman Jeon Jae-hyung.”
“Oh my!”
Indeed, in South Korea, there was no one who didn’t recognize Samjeon Group.
“I’m not sure what your son’s future aspirations are, but Samjeon Group is the company most college students want to work for.”
“Oh my… wait… so the eldest son of the Bossam Restaurant family living next door is a famous entrepreneur who dropped out of Harvard… and the son of Samjeon Group’s chairman works at his company….”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
I answered promptly with a satisfied expression.
The elevator arrived just in time.
Neighbor’s Son looked directly at me and asked with an earnest voice.
“I’m studying computer science at Seoul National University. My dream is to work at a company like Google or FaceNote.”
“Hmm… you know I also serve as the CEO of YouTube, right?”
“Of course! If you don’t mind, could I hear about it this evening?”
I gauged Neighbor Woman’s reaction.
Seeing her son pleading, Neighbor Woman became restless.
“Well… I’m quite busy and don’t have much time….”
“That’s what neighbors are for. My husband brought home some excellent liquor recently, and I’m quite skilled at cooking side dishes. I’ll bring the alcohol and snacks, so let’s celebrate your move together as neighbors.”
“Alcohol, food. Such rare delicacies… I’ve already had far too much and received plenty of gifts.”
“Ah, well….”
The Neighbor Woman was visibly flustered by my words.
[I think I’ve intimidated her enough….]
I watched the anxious Neighbor Woman.
[Go ahead and surrender, wave the white flag, ma’am.]
The Neighbor Woman suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Oh my, I really do have terrible judgment of character, don’t I? My husband’s been through so much fraud in his business dealings. I suppose I tend to lack sincerity when assessing people.”
[Keep going a bit more.]
“That’s why when I heard you moved into this apartment from a bossam restaurant, I thought you were strange people. I had no idea you were such an important person…. Oh goodness, I’m such a fool. My son got into Seoul National University as the top student in his class, and he was even student council president in high school. I’d be grateful if you could share some precious words of wisdom with my son. Would you?”
The woman had already begun using formal honorifics.
This seemed like the right amount of establishing my presence and defending our family’s reputation.
“Then, ma’am.”
The woman gazed up at me like a subject awaiting their lord’s command.
“Since my mother will be grilling pork belly, I’d appreciate it if you could bring some good alcohol.”
“Of course! I’ll run right over and bring it. I’ll have to empty our entire liquor cabinet!”
The Neighbor Woman finally smiled.
* * *
“Sung-guk’s mom~”
The Neighbor Woman called my mother in a saccharine voice.
It was completely different from just thirty minutes ago.
My mother, unaware of the context, looked somewhat bewildered.
I whispered quietly to my mother.
“Mom, she found out I dropped out of Harvard and I’m the CEO of FaceNote.”
“You told her that?”
“Not intentionally… she overheard me talking with Tae-guk. It was completely natural.”
My mother gave me a suspicious look.
[My family knows me too well.]
My mother patted my back.
“Jeon Sung-guk, don’t be so boastful. Understood?”
“Mom, you should at least acknowledge that your son is talented.”
At that moment, the Neighbor Woman handed a bottle to my mother.
“This is a bottle my husband treasures, and I heard you’re grilling pork belly here today? You need to drink something of this caliber with pork belly.”
What the Neighbor Woman brought was cognac worth well over a million won per bottle.
Of course, my mother had no idea, but Jeon Tae-guk just shrugged and accepted it.
“This is perfect for pork belly.”
“Isn’t it, young master?”
Now the Neighbor Woman naturally addressed Jeon Tae-guk as “young master.”
She was truly an adaptable woman.
“Let me grill the pork belly now.”
At Mother’s words, the Neighbor Woman snatched the tongs right from her hands.
“Sung-guk’s mother, why are you doing that? At my age, this is something I should be doing. I’ve grilled meat far more times than you have. Entertaining guests has been part of my daily life because of my husband’s business. So everyone, please sit down. Let me really show off my skills today.”
“But this is our home, so I should be the one grilling. It’s fine.”
“What does that matter? We’re neighbors, after all.”
The Neighbor Woman rolled up her sleeves and began grilling the pork belly.
“Oh my, so you know how to pick quality meat for a restaurant. This pork belly looks absolutely delicious. The fat content is just right. It’s going to taste amazing.”
The Neighbor Woman, who had looked down on us just yesterday for opening a restaurant, had completely changed her tune in an instant.
Sizzle, sizzle—
Meanwhile, the pork belly cooked beautifully.
And the Neighbor’s Son asked me various questions, which I answered earnestly.
“CEO, so you developed Face Note in high school, received investment in college, and moved straight to Silicon Valley?”
“Yes. I was fortunate.”
[Of course, I planned everything myself.]
“Please, let me pour you another drink.”
The Neighbor’s Son kept refilling my glass.
Just then, Mother smacked my back hard.
[Mom, I’m Jeon Sung-guk, the CEO of Face Note! With people here….]
“Don’t just drink by yourself. Give some to the student too.”
“Oh, all right.”
“My goodness, how can Sung-guk’s mother treat such an accomplished son so tough? I’d carry him around if he were mine.”
“Accomplished? He’s just been doing whatever he wanted since childhood, so I worry he’s irresponsible. Does the neighbor’s son have a girlfriend?”
The Neighbor’s Son’s face flushed slightly.
[Could it be?]
“Actually, I’ve been seeing a girlfriend for a while now. She was my high school classmate.”
The most shocked by this news was the Neighbor Woman.
“Son~ what are you saying right now?”
“Oh, Mom. It hasn’t been long.”
“Son! You… we need to talk privately about this.”
Mother quickly stopped the Neighbor Woman.
“I’m so envious. My son still hasn’t managed to get even one girlfriend at this age.”
“Mom!”
“Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“Mom, I haven’t been able to because I’ve been busy with work.”
“All right. All right.”
Mother stroked my back the way she used to when I was young.
[Ah, when she does this, my mood improves again.]
* * *
The evening continued until the pork belly and cognac ran out.
When Father came home from work, the Neighbor Woman even gasped in admiration.
“My goodness, I thought the children were pretty because they took after Sung-guk’s mother’s beauty… but Sung-guk’s father is handsome too. Oh my, I shouldn’t be like this. Why do I envy this family so much….”
And so the evening concluded with the Neighbor’s Son, now pleasantly tipsy from a few drinks, delivering the perfect finale.
After downing a cognac in one shot, the Neighbor’s Son rose unsteadily and bowed deeply before me.
“I… I can’t believe I’m actually seeing someone this remarkable in person. Sir… if you’re ever hiring interns, I’d really love to apply! I dropped out of Seoul National University too, and I really want to pursue what I’m passionate about, CEO!”
The mention of dropping out made the Neighbor Woman flinch slightly, but I calmly patted the Neighbor’s Son on the shoulder.
“Student, finish your studies first and explore what you truly want to do. Major decisions should be made carefully.”
“Then I’ll study really, really hard and apply after I graduate. CEO!!!”
The Neighbor’s Son answered loudly.
Though that wasn’t quite the advice I intended to give… the Neighbor Woman seemed relieved nonetheless.
[Dropping out is something only geniuses like me should do, young man.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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